Card sorting machine



Nov. 209 1945.

R. CONNOR Y CARD SORTINGvMACHINE' Filed oct. so, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 151 54 INVENTQR. 5j E065@ CON/voe, BY .9' @LLM d.. W

f ATTO/vsy.

R. CONNOR CARD SORTING MACHINE ,Nov. zo, 1945-.

Filed Oct. 50, 1943 I Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR- Rosse CoM/voe,

BY @Ww a: M

ATTORNEY.-

Nov. 2o, 1945.l R, CCN-NOR Y 2,389,343

' l bARD SRTINGYMACHINE Il Filedv Oct. .30, 1943 3 sheets-Sheet 3 y 2j25 40 39 3j INVENTOR. v QOL-3.15` CONNOR,

BY Y

ATTORNEY;

Patented Nov. v20, 1945.

CARD SORTING MACHINE Roger Connor, `Athens, Ohio, assignor to The Mc-Bee Company, Athens, Ohio, a corporation Application October 30,` 1943,Serial No. 50.8,385y

6 Claims.

This invention relates to card sorting and selecting machines for useindirect and sequence sorting of cards of the character widely knownmainder of 'a stack -by means of asorting rod or rods passed through theperforations of a particuv lar classification. `The rod or rods retainsthose as Keysort cards and which are illustrated and described inLetters Patent of the United States #1,544,172. V-

It is the principal object `of my present invention to provide agenerallyI improvedv apparatus capable of receiving cardsk of theycharacter re-' ferred to and of operation toexpeditiously sein withgreater facility and accuracy than prior devices for similar purposes.

One form which the invention may assume is exempliiied in thefollowingdescription and illustrated by 4way of example in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a' perspective view of an apparatus embodying the preferredform ofvmy invention.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section therethrough taken on line 2-2of Fig. 1.

.cards unslotted for this classification while the cards slotted torepresent the selected classification separate from the stack. I Y

In sequence sorting as set forth in said patent,

any number of cards in a stack may be placed quence sort or direct sortthe cards disposed there- U `Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machineshowing the sorting rod in sorting position. I

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in section taken on line 'I-l of Fig. l. y

Fig; 8 is a perspective view of the form of selector rod employed when aplurality of the same are used simultaneously.

Fig. 9 is a trai'flsversek sectional view through the selector rodholder.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, I0 indicatesan apparatus constructed 4in accordance with my present invention. Thisapparatus is a portable one and may be disposed on a table,l desk orother convenient support for use. The apparatus I 0 is capable of .usein sequence sorting of edge punched cards as wellasthe direct sortingthereof. u

The cards to be sorted in the present machine are those of the characterset forth in the before mentioned Letters Patent of the United States#1,544,172 and in general consist of a sheet or a card having a.plurality of perforations adjacent the edge of the card which may beseparately slotted out to the edge of the card. The slotting of the cardindicates or represents a particular classiilcation.l In direct sorting,as pointed out in said patent, those cards relating to a particularclassiiication are separated from the reinv numerical 'order or otherksequence .by ypassing the selector rod successively through theperforations in a particular sequence asset forth in the patent. Both,direct andsequence sorting is well d known and therefore will not bedescribed herein with particularity.

The present machine I0 is capable of receivingv a stack of cards anddirect sorting.r or sequence sortingathe same., The machine comprises a`frame or. base II which in this instance is illustrated as a hollow basepreferably formed oi sheet metal although other construction may beemployed. At the. top of this frame there is a cir-- cumscribing wall I2defining a rectangular card receiving chamber I2a. This chamber I2a isdisposed on an angle tc the horizontal. At the bottom of the chamber I2ais a flat platform I4 also disposed at an acute angle to the horizontal.This platform I4 is pivoted` adjacent its lower end to the sides of theframe Il as at I5 so that itfmay be raised and lowered vertically alimited amount as will be described. i

Disposed Within the chamber I2a is, a card re- I ceiving rack I6 formedof a plurality of equally spaced separator plates I1. This rack isnormally disposed at the same angle as the platform I4 and bearsthereon. It will be noticed that each side of the rack is formed by aseparator plate I1 and that all of the separator plates are rigidlyjoined together adjacent the lower end by transverse members I8 and I9.The upper ends of the separator plates I1 constitute templates and aresubstantially the same in contour and dimensiones the cards to besorted.

v I prefer to call the upper portion of the separating plates templatesinasmuch as they match the cards to be sorted and are formed withselector rod receiving holes or perforations 20 which are vious that theend edges of the templates may be likewise formed with selector rodreceiving holes. When the platform I4 is in normal position as shown indotted line in Fig. 2 and the card receivy in engagement with the cranks25.

ing rack is in its normal position with its lower edge bearing on itsplatform, cards stacked between the templates will register with thetemplates and the punched holes a in the cards will register with theselector rod receiving holes 20 in the templates. This enables aselector rod to be projected through the templates and through the cardsfor sorting purposes as will be described. y

In order to hold the cards 'in aligned position rods are projectedthrough the cards and teming gate 22 which extends transversely thereofand may be positioned so vthat the;lower ends of thecards will engagethe same land be maintained in register with the templates 2|. .gate 22may be, as shown in the drawings, swung withthe templates 2| while theselector rod or the selector rod or rods to disengage therefrom plates,the platform I4 is formed with an align-J and drop downwardly to .theplatform and slide downwardly along the same a distance slightly lessthan f thelengthof the cards or until their lower ends abut against thetransverse member I9 adjacent the lower end of the rack. It is imyportant that the cards be not permitted to slide to a position flushwith the top of the platform.4

|4 so that Ithe cards released from the templates.

2| may 'slide downwardly of 'the platform to a position as shown in Fig.2 that.v removed from the rack.

It shouldbe Vpointed out that in causingremoval of selected cards from astack thereof after the selector rod or rods are projected therethrough,it is necessary to produce a `ian-ing4 action on 'the cards so thatthose cards havingk notches registering with the vselector'rod or rods'will drop completely from the stack; This jarring action is necessary toovercome the tendency of the cards to stick Vtogether or cards beingheld from dropping by adjacent cards. In the present instance I haveprovided means for imparting a vibrating or gyratory movement to thetemplatesy 2| to effect such separation ofthe-cards during' sorting. Iaccomplish this by' providing the receiving rack I8 with two downwardlyprojecting they may be their full length downwardly of the platform asit prevents the removed cards from falling sidewise and blocking theexit of other cards from the stack. In other words, it maintains theselected cards in a vertical position in their respective places. Toguide the platform I4 in its `vertical movement, ears are formed thereonat the sides thereof. These ears have slots 33 of a length agreeing withthe. amount of movement Vitis desired to permit the platform I4, whichslots engage fixed pins 31.at the sides ofv the frame Il.

arms 23. One arm 23 projects downwardly from 1 one side of the rack I6and the other from the opposite side of the rack I6. The lower ends ofthese arms 23 are bifurcated as indicated by` 24 and each engages acrank 25 on a transverse shaft25 carried by the frame I'I. vA spring V21maintains the bifurcated ends 24 of the arms 23 Obviously when the shaft26 is revolved, the templates 2| of the card receiving rack I 6 will berapidly gyrated or vibrated .to eiect complete separation of the cards.The shaft 26 is preferably driven by an electric motor 28 mounted withinthe base II through a belt 28afanda pulley 29a on the shaft 26. Themotor 28 is controlled by a conventional type of switch 29 also mountedwithin the base.

s Abefore stated, the platform. is pivoted to .the base II as at I5 forthe purpose of enabling When the p ins- 3 1 engage the lower endsv ofthe slots 36, the platform will bev in normal orupper position and whenthe pins 31 engage the .upper ends ofthe slots 36, the platform will bein its lower or selecting position. A spring 38 normally tends .to movethe platform to its lower position.

When the platform I4 is moved to its-lower position, the switch 29 isautomatically closed to start the motor 28 and the aligninggate 22 isautomatically lowered to unobstruct the exit of 40,the cards frombetween the templatesv 2|. These it to be lowered with relation to thebottom of the templates 2| of the card receiving rack I6. The templates2|, of course, form a rigid part of the rack. For this purpose atransverse shaft 30 is mounted in base Il. At one end the shaft 30 isprovided with an operating handle 3| positioned exteriorally of the basethat itmay `be grasped and manipulated by the operator of the machine.Secured on this shaft 3U are crank arms 32 connected by connecting rods33 to lugs 34 secured to the underside of the platform I4. When theoperating handleV 3| is' in one position, the platform is positionedatits normal or kupper position or vthat shown in dotted lines'in Fig.2.

in which position the bottom of the templates I1 are closely contiguousto the upper surface of the platform. When the parts are in thisposition,

the punched holes in cards stacked between the to the surface of theplatform I4. inclination ofthe latter the cards will slide downtwo`functions are accomplished by -theprovision of a switch arm 39 and agate arm 49 both fixed to the shaft 30. When the operating handle 3| ofthe shaft 30 is moved to lower the platform I4, it causesthe switch arm39 to close the switch 29 and to cause the arm 40-to lower the gate 22.The arm 40 is connected toga crank arm 4| on .the gate by a connection42. A spring 43 is providedwhich constantly tendsxto4 move the gate 22to its upper or aligning position.

When the operating handle 3| is swung inthe opposite direction to movethe platform I4 .toits upper or normal position, the army 43 swingsupwardly allowing the spring 43 to swing the gate 22 to its uppermost oraligning position. At the Sametime the arm 39. disengages from theswitch 29 and permits the same to open, cutting oif the operation of themotor. Thus, it will be seen that after the selectorrod or rods areprojected through the cards and templates, the operating handle 3| maybe operated` to lower the 'platform I4 and simultaneously operate thegate 22 and the switch 29.

vImmediately that the motor commences operation, it will impart a drivetofthe shaft 23'to revolve the crank 25` and through the cranks and thearms 23 rapidly gyrate or vibrate the card receiving rack I6 andtemplates 2| thereof, causing the selected cards to Adrop from thestackDue to the wardly thereover until they engage the transverse member I9.The remaining cards Vor theunselected ones will be held suspended in thecard receiving rack by the selector rod or rods.

When the operator determines that all of the selected cards have beendischarged `from the stack, the operating handle 3| is manipulated toturn the shaft 30 to raise the platform It and simultaneously shut oithe operation of the motor and raisethe gate 22. Of course, prior to theoperation of the handle 3|, the operator removes from the' rack theselected cards that have been discharged from the stack.of cards.

For the purpose of operating vthe selector .-rod or rods, I haveprovided a selector rod holder 5I) which is disposed at one side cf theframe. This selector rod holder comprises a pair of complementarymembers 5| which are channel shaped in cross section. One of the inneropposed faces of the members 5i (which isvat the base ofthe channel ineach instance) is formed with rack teeth |52 engaged by a pinion 53fixed on the selector rod 55. The side legs 5ta of the members 5| arespaced slightly apart and formed with equally spaced sockets 5t. Thespacing betweenv the sockets is precisely that of the template holes 20and the sockets are in register with such holes 2d. These sockets 5t areadapted to receive the hub 55a oi' a selector rod 55. 'I'he hu'o 55a isformed with a knob' so that the selector rod 55 may be revolved-byrevolving'the knob 56 and when so rotated, the engagement of the .pinion53 with the teeth of the rack 52 will force Vthe members 5| furtherapart so that the selector rod may be moved successively from one socket5t to the succeeding one. Obviously, when the knob 56 is turned, theengagement of the teeth of the pinion 53 with theteeth oi the rack 52will require that the pinion 53 and its hub willbe forced to movelongitudinally of the niembers 5|. It is enabled to do this by the hubcreating a camming action on the adjacent faces of the members 5|between the sockets M. Thus,

the hub will enter the spaces between the adjacent faces of the members5| between the sockets and wedge them apart so that the hub of thepinion 58 will move to the next socket, and when aligned with thissocket, the members 5| will move toward each other. Thisl is possiblebecause of the yielding of the spring means die which holds the twomembers 5| together which spring means Sia permits sulcient separationof the members 5| to enable thel hub 54 of the selector rod' 55 to Dassfrom one socket to the succeeding one. The spring means which holds thetwo members 5| together are located at opposite ends of the members 5l,as illustrated in Fig. 7, and consist of fiat springs as showin.l

The selector rod holder 5U is connected by two telescoping slides 51 tothe templates 2| of the rack i1. Theser guiding slides extendhorizontally at right angles to the faces of the templates asillustrated 'so that the selector rod holder til may be moved laterallyrelatively to the templates `2l as illustrated. The amount of movementpermitted the selector rod holder 50 is slightly greater in dimensionthan the spacing between the outermost templates 2|. Therefore, when theselector rod holder 50 is in its outermost position it will becompletely'withdrawn from the adjacent template; and permit theinsertion of cards between the templates. When the selector rod holder5D is in its innermost position the selector rod will be projectedthrough the furtherest template 2| so as to engage all of the cardsdisposed in the rack and be supported A by each template.

The selector rod holder and selector rod construction just described isprovided for the purpose of sequence or other sorting where but oneselector rod is employed in that by merelyturning the selector rod itwill be moved to the next position and be in alignment with the nextselectorrod hole 20 ofthe templates. The selector rod vmay be moved,however, to any position in alignment with any selector hole of thetemplates by` merely continuing yto revolve the same as described.However, if it is desired to directsort and use more than one selectorrod, the selector rod 55 is rotated until it engagesA the last openingin the selector rod holder 50 which open ing is beyond the upper end oi'the templates 2| in which positionvtheselector rod may pass in back oi.the templatesl without engaging either the templates or the cardstherein.

For use in direct sorting with multiple rods, selector rods such'asshown in Fig. 8. arel provided,A which are straight rods with hat heads.One or more of these may be projected endwise through the sockets 5t ofthe selector rod holder 50 and after they` have been positioned in theselector rod holder, the selector rod holder is moved toward the cardVreceiving rack to project those selector rods through the cards andtemplates. In connection with such use the selector rod holder thisformed with aretaine'r member 5t pivoted thereto as at t9 and capable oioverlying the'outermost face of the selector rod holder t and the headsof the rods and mainf' form it in its uppermost normal position atapproximately the lower edges of vthe templates 2i. The selector rodholder til is withdrawn to its outermost position. The operator thenplaces the cards in between the templates with their lower ends engagingthe gate 22, and resting, of course. onthe inclined platform it. In thisposition, the holes therein will register with the holes 20 of thetemplates. If but one operating` rod 55 is employed, the operatorpositions it in the operating .rod holder 5t in alignment with theselected hole 2@ of the templates and cards. The operating rod holderis; then moved laterallytoward the card receiving rack so as to'projectthe selector rod-4 55 through the cards and templates. If, however, morethan one selectorrod is to be employed such as in a direct sort, theselector rod 55 lis moved to-aninoperative position as previouslydescribed and the selector rods are projected through the proper sockets55 in the rod holder 5t. The retainer member 5t is thenpositioned tomaintain these rods in position with respect to the holder 5U. p.

Thereafter the selector rod holder 5d is moved laterally in a directiontoward the templates to its innermost position at which theselectorrodswill project through the templates 2| and the cards therebetween.VRegardless of the type of sort, the operator then operates the handle @ias previously described to lower the platform id so that the cardsv willbe suspendedfin the rack i@ from the operating rod or rods.Simultaneously with thelowering of the platform It, the switch 2li willbe closedby the switch arm giiwand the gate 22 will be'lowered throughthemedium of the arm ilo, the connection t2 and the crankarmt|.-,.1mmediately upon closing of the switch 29,

the motor will commence and will drive the shaft 25 to vibrate or gyratethe card receiving rack `causing the cards having notches registeringwith 4 Y asaaacs the same until they engage the transverse memthat allof the selected cards have been removed from the stack, the'selectedcards will be removed from the rack. Thereafter, the operator willoperate the handle ll to discontinue the motor, raise the platform I4and also repositionthe gate 22 as previously described. When this hasbeen done, the operator withdraws the selector rod 55 by withdrawing theselectorerod` vholder 50 to its outermost position. At thistime the gate22 will be upraised maintaining' the selected cards in position betweenthe templates. The operator may then withdraw the cards from theapparatus sothat the same will be in condition forv a subsequentoperation. f

Tothose familiar with the various sorting operations utilized inconjunction with cards ofthis character, it will be obvious that varioustypes ofsorts may be eifected including direct sorting and sequencesorting.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provideda very simple andeilicient apparatus for expeditiously sorting edge punched cards randwhile I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to beunderstood that various changes may be made therein vbythose skilled inthe art without departing from the yspirit of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

Having thus describedy my invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the.character described, a frame, a longitudinallyinclined platform on the frame, a plurality of vertically disposedlaterally spaced templates superposed over the upper end of the platformand arranged longitudinally thereof, said templates each having a row ofholes arranged longitudinallyv thereof complementary to and aligningwith holes in cards to be disposed 'therebetween for sorting, a selectorrod holder at `one side of the templates and arranged in parallelismtherewith, a telescopic connection connecting the top of the templateswithfsaid holder -enabling lateralmovement of the holder toward fromeach other and move said rod from socket to socket along said holder.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a frame, a longitudinallyinclined platform on the frame, a plurality of vertically disposed`laterally spaced templates superposed over the upper end of theplatform and arranged longitudinally thereof, said templates each havinga row of holes arranged longitudinally thereof complementary to andaligning with `holes in cards to be disposed therebetween for sorting, aselectorrod holder at one side of the templates and arranged inparallelism therewith, a telescopic connection connecting the top of thetemplates with said holder enabling lateral movement of the holdertoward and away from the templates a distance equivalent to the lateraldimension occupied by the templates, said selector rod holder includinga. pair of complementary members yleldingly urged together andformedfwith complementary parts'of selector rod receiving sockets inalignment with the holes of the templates, a

selector rod yieldingly retained in said sockets and projecting in adirection whereby it will be projected through and withdrawn from theholes of the templates upon movement of the holder, complementarytoothed engagement means on said rod and said holder whereby turningmovement of the rod will urge said members away from each other and movesaid rod from socket to socket along said holder. y

3. In` an apparatus of the character described, aframe, a longitudinallyinclined platform on the frame, a plurality of vertically disposedlaterally spaced templates superposed over the upper end of the platformand arranged longitudinally thereof, said templates each having a row ofholes arrangedA longitudinally thereof complementary to and aligningwith holes in cards to be disposed therebetween for sorting, a selectorrod holder at one side of the templates and arranged in parallelismtherewith, a telescopic connection connecting the top of the templateswith said holder enabling lateral movement of the holder toward and awayfrom the templates a distance equivalent tothe lateral dimensionoccupied by y the templates, saidselector rod holder including a pair ofcomplementary members yieldingly urged together and formed withcomplementary parts of selector rod receiving socketsin alignment withthe holes of the templates, a selector rod yieldingly retained in saidsockets and projecting in a direction whereby it will'be projectedthrough and withdrawn from the holes of the templates upon -movement ofthe holder, a rack f formed on one of said members, a pinion secured onsaid seletor rod in engagement therewith whereby turning movement oi therod will force said members awayv from each other and move said rod fromsocket to socket along said holder.

4*.An apparatus of vthe character described comprising a frame, aninclined platform on the frame, laterallyfspaced templates superposed onthe platform, said templates being complementary to cards to be receivedbetween the templates and having holes formed therethrough to registerwith holes in cards to be interposed therebetween, means forindependently raising and lowering the platform withrespect to thebottom of the tem- Dlates'vibrating means connected with the templatesfor vibrating the same, and means for automatically placing thevibrating means in operation upon the lowering of the platform andceasing operation of the vibrating means automatically upon raising ofthe platform from its lowered position. l

5. An apparatus of` the character described comprising a frame, aninclined platform on the frame, laterally spaced templates superposed onthe platform, said templates being complementary to cards to be receivedbetween the templates and having holes formed therethrough to registerwith holes in cards to be interposed therebetween, means forindependently raising andlowering the platform with respecttothe bottomof the templates, motor driven vibrating means operatively connectedwith the templates for vibrating the same, switch means for the circuitof said motor drivenlyibrating means; an operative connection betweenthe platform and said switch whereby lowering of the platform will closethe circuit of said motor driven means and raising of the 'plat-'- formfrom its lowered position 'will open the circuit of said motor drivenmeans.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising a frame` alongitudinally inclined platform on the frame, laterally spacedtemplates relatively xed together and superposed on the platform andarranged longitudinally thereon in a vertical position, said templatesbeing complementary to cards to be received therebetween and havingholes arranged in a row therealong to be in register with holes in cardsto be interposed therebetween, means for raising and lowering theplatform with respect to the bottom of the templates, motor drivenvibrating means for vibratingthe templates, means for automaticallyclosing the motor circuit upon lowering ofthe platform y.

